Low-Fantasy Occultist Isekai

Chapter 78

Nick lay flat in the grass, his heart pounding as he tried to decide what to do next. Through his spell, he could sense the tension in the house and the heightened alertness of the beastmen inside. The wolfkin's growl echoed in his mind.They know someone is here. They know I'm here.

Just as he prepared to draw on his mana to defend himself, he felt them move to leave the house.

To his surprise, the beastmen didn't converge on his position. Instead, the bearman, Teo, and the wolfkin surged in the opposite direction, quickly moving out of Nick's sensory range. He focused on the remaining presences in the house—Wulla and Elia—desperately trying to learn more.

Elia's breathing was calm, almost too calm, but Nick detected a subtle undercurrent of unease as she patted her own tail. It was good to know that at least that remained unchanged. Wulla, on the other hand, was waiting by the window, perfectly still like a statue.

Minutes stretched, and Nick remained frozen in the grass, waiting. When the beastmen finally returned, they were not alone. A fourth presence struggled against them—a man. Through the feedback of his spell, Nick recognized him as an adventurer he had seen at the tavern. His movements were jerky, his words rough and unrefined, and Nick could feel his desperation as they got closer.

They dragged the man into the house. Teo's wide frame made the process look easy despite the adventurer thrashing like a wild animal. Once inside, the man was forced into a chair, his arms bound behind him with ropes that had clearly been used for this purpose before. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

Nick watched intently. Wulla moved to a cabinet and pulled out a small vial. She handed it to Teo, who uncorked it and held it to the adventurer's lips.

"No!" the man shouted, hoarse with panic. "You can't make me—"

Teo didn't bother responding. With ease, he pinched the adventurer's nose shut, forcing him to open his mouth to breathe. As soon as his lips parted, Teo poured the potion down his throat, keeping his jaw closed until the man swallowed.

Nick felt a chill run down his spine. The entire process was clinical, almost mechanical. There was no hesitation, no room for mercy. They've done this before.

Elia shifted uncomfortably in her seat, likely having not been present for this part before. She fidgeted and avoided looking directly at the scene. However, she didn't intervene. It was as if she had resigned herself to the necessity of what was happening.

Nick, for his part, couldn't have looked away even if he wanted to. He was no stranger to violence—he had killed before—but the sheer efficiency with which Wulla and her group operated unsettled him. It reminded him how different this world was from Earth, despite the general normalcy of Floria. Even the most innocent woman could be a ruthless killer, and there would be no way of knowing until it was too late.

The potion took effect almost immediately. The adventurer's thrashing ceased, and his breathing slowed. His muscles relaxed, though his eyes darted wildly, betraying his panic.

Wulla knelt before him. "Who are you, and why were you spying on us?"

The man's lips parted involuntarily, and the words spilled out. "My name is Renson. I'm an adventurer… been in Floria for a year. I followed you because I saw beastmen heading toward this house."

"And why did that make you suspicious when it is known that this is our neighborhood?" Wulla pressed, uncaring of his discomfort.

"Because…" Renson hesitated, his face contorting as he fought the potion's effects. "Because you're beastmen. After what happened with Morrin the demon… can't trust any of you."

Teo's massive hand curled into a fist at his side, but Wulla raised a hand to calm him.

"The Prelate cleared us," she said icily. "The flames of Sashara revealed no corruption among our people. Do you think yourself wiser than him?"

Renson didn't answer directly, his eyes darting around as if

"I suppose I'll have to show you how it's done, then?" Akari asked, looming over the two brothers.

Nick gulped, remembering very well how easily his mother had defeated him and knowing that Akari wouldn't be nearly as gentle. The memory gave him pause, and he glanced around. He was not surprised to see Elena approaching with a wooden sword.

"How about a spar for old times' sake?" she asked, stepping onto the training ground and signaling for her sons to clear the way.

Uh Oh, mama bear is here.